BookBrowse Reviews The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar

BookBrowse:

A historical novel telling the uplifting story of a young aspiring fashion designer in the Roaring Twenties.

Bestselling writer Noelle Salazar is the author of the previous novels The Flight Girls and Angels of the Resistence. The Roaring Days of Zora Lily was popular with our First Impressions reviewers, earning a 5-star rating from 15 out of 18 readers.

What the book is about:

The story opens in 2023, when Sylvia, a costume conservator with the Smithsonian Museum of American History, finds a hidden tag on one of the dresses to be displayed, and asks, "Who the hell is Zora Lily?" The author then takes us on a wonderful journey through the 1920s in Seattle. Zora's life is not easy, helping her mother earn money through sewing and mending, and watching her younger siblings. But she has dreams, and despite setbacks, she won't give up realizing them. With her best friend Rose encouraging her, Zora begins going to the clubs downtown, seeing a world foreign to her, one that eventually opens opportunities (Michele).

Readers loved how Salazar uses vivid period details to anchor the novel in its 1920s setting.

Author Noelle Salazar is a master at painting vivid snapshots. It is easy for the reader to imagine the characters, locations, fashions and clubs (Shannon L). The Roaring Days of Zora Lily is a terrific read, especially for fans of historical fiction. … We see life from the tenements of Seattle to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood during the '20s (Catherine S).

They were quickly drawn into the plot, and found it difficult to stop reading.

This was a book I could not put down from the first page to the last. The plot was good, the characters were captivating and the writing was delicious (Terri C). I was hooked as soon as I finished the first chapter! (Tracey S). What a pleasure it is to be immersed in a story quickly when one begins a new book. The tale of Zora Lily kept my attention throughout with fresh perspectives of one of the most interesting times in history (Jennifer B).

A few reviewers suggested that those looking for complex characters may be disappointed…

While the story introduces us to a host of different characters, none are deeply examined (Diana C). Historic events provide fodder for a richly realized story full of complex characters created by their place in society and economic status. Instead, Salazar has written a book which, to me, is a step above a "cozy" in the way the lives of its characters evolve and in the short shrift given important events in American history (Irene H).

…but most found the people in the story engaging and worthy of interest.

The characters are quite likable and the abundant sections of dialogue make for easy, interesting reading (Linda S). Both the narrative and the characters feel real. It is easy to care about secondary characters, such as Zora's mother and her friend Rose Tiller (Shannon L). Zora and many of the other characters are warm and charming, and I liked them from the moment they first appeared on the page (Emily).

Overall, readers thought The Roaring Days of Zora Lily was not only a great work of historical fiction but a profoundly uplifting tale.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical fiction, and it's the perfect read if you're looking for an uplifting tale or if you need some encouragement while you're going after your dreams (Emily). It is a wonderful story of perseverance and the belief in a dream at a time when career choices for women were limited (Cindy B). Zora is a young woman who demonstrates that working hard to achieve a personal goal is worth every effort and mistake. … I highly recommend The Roaring Days of Zora Lily and Salazar's previous books The Flight Girls and Angels of the Resistance. All three are stories of female spirit and perseverance. Do not miss this gem! (Shannon L).

This review first ran in the November 1, 2023 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.